Isaiah 58:9 “Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer;
You shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ “If you take away the yoke from your midst,
The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,”
The verses preceding this one speaks of preparing our hearts before God through humble submission to God’s call to fasting with the right motive and in God’s timing. We are then called upon to be involved in practical ways to relieve the suffering of people who lack the simple staples of life like food, clothes and shelter.
We receive gifts during the Christmas season. Many times the gifts are duplicates of what we have in abundance. On this day after Christmas why not sow some good seed of benevolence toward a person in need, thus preparing yourself for powerful times of intercession mixed with the sweet savor of unselfish sharing the burdens others carry.
Pray for people who are able to help themselves with the blessing of God to arise and go beyond their normal efforts and find that God will send people to encourage and help them spiritually and in practical ways to become personally responsible for their lives. Also pray that those who cannot provide for themselves to get the public and private sector help they need especially widows and orphans. “Call to the Lord and He will answer.”